What to do with the surplus belongings of the graduates? Many universities may open flea markets. But unlike other universities, GTIIT Graduates Flea Market has been turned into a public welfare project, with all funds going to support students' innovation and entrepreneurship.

GTIIT Summer Flea Market received 2,150.5 yuan in total during the three-day activity. GTIIT Association of Commercial Entrepreneur (ACE), the organizer of the event, decided to donate all the money to GTIIT Education Foundation in the name of "Class of 2021", which will be used to support GTIIT students' innovation and entrepreneurship. This is the first time that GTIIT has received financial donations from student groups.

Dusty Things Shining again

At the beginning of July, the members of ACE have put empty boxes in the first floor of Dormitory A to collect unused objects of the graduates. After the busy collection and arrangement, the Summer Flea Market opened on August 13th, selling all the objects at a low price.

The organizers met many difficulties in the preparation. The time period of preparation and military training was collided, so they always needed to overcome tiredness to carry on collecting objects. When evaluating the price of an object, they also had many arguments. One of the organizers Wang Run recalled:"If the price of some objects are hard to determine, then they will bargain. For example, the initial price of a book was 20 yuan, and its final price was 8 yuan after several rounds of haggling."

When the flea market formally opened, the small room was crowded with customers just within 30 minutes. Looking at customers selecting objects carefully and happily, Wang Run whispered with partner:"I do hope they can make full use of these old objects."

The Care from the Seniors

In this activity, Class of 2017 selflessly provided objects that they thought was of high quality, most of which were brand new. One of the organizers Wang Yan said:"The value of an object is not only existed in its practical usage, but also existed in its significance. From my perspective, it's very precious that a small object can bridge the gap between different grades."

In freshmen's view, the organizers' selflessness touched them a lot. "Without the elaborate arrangement of the senior students, this activity couldn't be held so successfully. I think they also should be praised."

The Spirit of Innovation

ACE is a unique representative of GTIIT, whose core is innovation, with the aim of encouraging GTIIT students to spare no effort to create and innovate. The origin and the purpose of this activity are also related to "innovation".

Zhang Lintong, the present president of ACE said:"I always want to do something meaningful for the first class of graduates of GTIIT. Inspired by the innovation spirit of Cen Zhinuo, the funding president of ACE, it occurred to me to create this flea market. How to do it well is a huge challenge for us, because nobody has attempted it before. But as an innovator full of courage to restart, challenge is not frightened to us! The total money will be donated to the GTIIT Education Foundation, aiming to establish the scholarship for innovation." Zhang Lintong also said:"Although the amount of the money is limited, it's also our contribution to help succeeded innovators."

GTIIT Education Foundation

GTIIT Education Foundation is a private fundraising foundation approved by the Shantou Education Bureau and Civil Affairs Bureau, established in March 2019. The mission is to gain widespread support from society to promote the development of GTIIT, to promote the long-term development of the national education affairs and public welfare through fundraising activities and funds management.

Text: Liu Huayi, GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: GTIIT Association of Commercial Entrepreneur, GTIIT News & Public Affairs